%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1374004981074217800%% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread.%%[[quoteright:205:[[ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dbdtiyi_5808.png]]]]

->''"If you put a large switch in some cave somewhere, with a sign on it saying 'End-of-the-World Switch. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH', the paint wouldn't even have time to dry."''-->-- ''Discworld/ThiefOfTime''

Another one of the GenreSavvy's StockPhrases. Just like how there are some things [[TemptingFate nobody is absolutely ever supposed to say]], there are some objects the viewer/reader can instantly, instinctively tell nobody is ever supposed to touch: the singular artifact placed on a pedestal in the abandoned TempleOfDoom, the MineralMacGuffin locked in a treasure chest buried in a cave on an uncharted island, the [[PowerGlows glowing]] MacGuffin in a display case in the DiabolicalMastermind's study, or the ForbiddenFruit surrounded by signs that boldly warn [[SchmuckBait DO NOT TOUCH! WILL CAUSE]] [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT!]]

WhoWouldBeStupidEnough to [[WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong touch any of that]]? [[RuleOfDrama Fortunately for the plot]], ''plenty'' of GenreBlind characters are, all the while ignoring their GenreSavvy [[TheCassandra companion's]] warning of "Don't touch it, you idiot!" They ''never'' listen to them. Cue the rolling boulder/erupting volcano/invasion of {{Mooks}}/release of the SealedEvilInACan and all their complications/a snarky "IWarnedYou."

In his analysis of the FairyTale, [[ProppsFunctionsOfFolktales ''The Morphology of the Folktale'']], Vladimir Propp concluded that the functions "probihition" and "disobedience" really formed a single plot function; any prohibition was bound to be violated.

This {{trope}} is for variations of a warning Stock Phrase by the GenreSavvy. Otherwise, see ForbiddenFruit and SchmuckBait (of which the BigRedButton labeled "DO NOT TOUCH" is a {{subtrope}}). Plus, if someone ever asks, [[WhatDoesThisButtonDo "What does this button do?"]], this is the ''only'' [[PoorCommunicationKills acceptable way to answer]].

----!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: {{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]* In an ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'' {{Yonkoma}}, Tomo relates a dream to Yomi where she saw a BigRedButton she just ''had'' to push. Then Chiyo ran in and pleaded for her ''not'' to push it, because she (Chiyo) would die. Naturally, Tomo pushed it, and Chiyo died.** Similarly, Tomo (awake this time) saw a freshly-painted wall with a "Do Not Touch!" sign. She smacked her hand on it, to Yomi's irritation.** When they visit Chiyo's summer home for the second time, she remarks how bad it would be if they lost her key to the house right before getting inside by unlocking it. Cue Tomo grabbing the key and throwing it into the grassy area surrounding the house. Needless to say, no one is amused, and when they do find the key, Sakaki is called on to ''physically restrain'' Tomo.*** Which was probably necessary, since Tomo just had to blurt out how amusing it would be if she found the key and instantly threw it away again.* In an episode of ''Anime/{{FLCL}}'', the mayor's daughter finds Naota, the main character, unconscious with cat ears on his head. She reaches out to touch them, and is then interrupted by Haruko yelling "DON'T TOUCH IT!" into a megaphone. They then have a conversation, with the girl touching the ears and seemingly nothing happening... until she clutches her stomach and passes out. The scene ends with Haruko saying, "I told you not to touch it. Is that my fault?"* In ''Manga/OnePiece'', Spandam is given the special Transponder Snail to trigger the near-apocalyptic Buster Call, and brandishes it, and gloats about it, and uses it to manipulate Nico Robin...and then presses it by accident. Whoops.** Those Telesnails really have it in for him. After he accidentally triggers the Buster Call, he also accidentally activates his regular Transponder Snail so that ''everybody on the island'' [[IsThisThingStillOn can hear his ensuing conversation]] with Nico Robin in which he claims it's perfectly okay if all Navy troops die as long as he can capture her and get away with his skin intact. They are ''not amused''.** In more of a RunningGag, about halfway into the series, Luffy starts saying some variation of, "Hello. I'm Monkey D. Luffy. The man who will become the Pirate King!" whenever he picks up a Telesnail. Half the time, ''everyone'' nearby is warning him not to pick up the snail before he does anyway; every time, they scold him for saying too much too quickly, often accompanied with a slap (which, more often than not, does [[RubberMan absolutely nothing to him]]).[[/folder]]

[[folder:ComicBooks]]* A short comic in {{Nodwick}} {{lampshades}} this, in which Yeagar pull a sword from a stone, which is surrounded by signs saying "Don't be a jerk! Leave it alone!", "You toucha dis sword, we break you face!", and so on. Drawing the sword is supposed to result in many, many misfortunes (most of which are ridiculous and hilarious), though none of these actually seem to come to pass.** Putting the sword back in is apparently just as dangerous.* In ''[[ComicBook/TheMultiversity Society of Super-Heroes: Conquerors of the Counter-World #1]]'', Doc Fate warns "Atom" Al Pratt away from reading the ''Ultra'' comic, citing it as the most dangerous object in his library.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/{{Coraline}}'', where she flips the switch BEFORE seeing the "Do Not Flip" sign. What she thought was a light switch, was actually the electricity in the room that her dad's computer was in... while he was still using it.* Disney's ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}'': Aladdin is told to "touch nothing but the lamp" when he enters the Cave of Wonders, and is successful in following this bit of advice (except for touching the magic carpet, which was apparently permissible). His monkey sidekick Abu, however, doesn't have the self-control that his master does, and it results in the two of them having to make a daring escape as the Cave of Wonders collapses around them.* In the Disney film ''Disney/TheSwordInTheStone'', the owl Archimedes warns young Arthur not to touch the titular sword, especially since choral voices and beams of light appear when he does. Arthur, of course, ignores the warning and pulls out the sword anyway. And is promptly crowned king.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]* A subversion occurs in the ''Film/JamesBond'' movie ''Film/GoldenEye''; as Q describes the operation of [[ShoePhone a pen-grenade]] he'll be using on his next assignment, James finds and picks up a good-sized sub sandwich. Q sees this and immediately grabs the sub out of his hands, telling him not to touch it. James, of course, assumes that it was another grenade, and that he almost set it off. But, no, it's just Q's lunch.* In ''Film/PansLabyrinth'', after being told by the faun under no uncertain terms not to eat any of the food in the Pale Man's room, that her very life depended on it, and brushing away the frantic warnings of the fairies, Ophelia takes two grapes from the banquet table and awakens a child-eating monster who bites the heads off two of the fairies and nearly gets her. Of course, the point was to show how Ophelia did not blindly obey orders and thus was the opposite of her fascist step-father. Unfortunately, it came across as making her look rather GenreBlind (worked a lot better when she disobeyed the fairies and opened the door they ''weren't'' pointing at). Who would be crazy enough to stay in the presence of the Pale Man any longer than necessary, anyway?* ''Film/VanHelsing'': "If there's one thing I've learned, it's never be the first to stick your hand into a viscous material."* ''Film/TimeBandits'': "Mum! Dad! It's ''evil! Don't touch it!''" [[spoiler: Boom.]]* ''Film/TheMummyTrilogy'':** ''Film/TheMummy1999'': "[[BigNo NOOOOOOO!!]] YOU MUST NOT READ FROM THE BOOK!" (Although in this case, just ''touching'' it is fine.)** Evelyn apparently does not learn from the past; in ''Film/TheMummyReturns'', when they find a chest locked in a ancient Egyptian safe:-->'''Evelyn:''' [[TemptingFate Come on, no harm ever came from]] [[Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk opening a chest.]]\\'''Rick:''' Yeah right, and no harm ever came from reading a book. [[CallBack You remember how that one went]]?\\''Thirty seconds later a wall crashes in and the Nile floods the room.''* ''Film/MenInBlack'': Agent K tells Agent J not to touch anything. What does Agent J do? Touches a small ball thing. Cue destruction and mayhem.** An IronicEcho echo occurs in ''Film/MenInBlack II'', Agent J pretty much cries this when Agent K, having been [[LaserGuidedAmnesia neuralized]] from previous film, touches a small round object, which turns out to be a tiny planet.* ''Film/{{Aliens}}'': "Nobody touch ''nothing''."* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'': While the gang is deep in the mines of Moria, Pippin the Hobbit innocently fiddles with an ancient suit of armour... Gandalf [[GenreSavvy reacts appropriately]].** And then there's the Palantír.** And Wormtongue examining the gunpowder with a [[TooDumbToLive lit torch]] in his hand, which Saruman quickly guides away.* Though nothing comes of it, Ash says almost exactly this line to his medieval love interest Sheila in ''Film/ArmyOfDarkness'' when she tries to examine the mechanical gauntlet he's building. Ash goes on to chastise her with "your primitive intellect wouldn't understand alloys and compositions and... things with molecular structure," his voice trailing off as it becomes clear that ''he'' doesn't really understand any of it either.* In ''The Brink's Job'', while robbing a gumball factory one of the thieves notices a door with a sign that says DO NOT OPEN THIS DOOR. HilarityEnsues.* The Emergency Stop lever on [[Film/{{Spaceballs}} Spaceball One]] is labeled "NEVER USE".* In ''Film/TheRocketeer'', when Cliff and Peavey first discover the stolen rocket-pack hidden in an airplane in the hangar, Peavey is examining the pack while Cliff holds one of its ignitions buttons, making Peavey say "I wouldn't touch that if I were you...", but he does, making the rocket-pack fly around the hangar.* {{Inverted|Trope}} in ''Film/SpaceJam''. Near the end of the film, Michael Jordan comes in with a basketball and asks his fellow top athletes to touch it, but they initially refuse to, thinking it's some sort of trap.* One of the protagonists in {{Film/Battleship}} is warned not to walk on and touch the giant mysterious floating structure.* ''Film/{{Prometheus}}'', to an incredible extent given that the crew are meant to be experienced scientists. Creator/BradJones remarked during his ''WebVideo/MidnightScreenings'' of the film that you could retitle it "Dude, Don't Touch That: The Movie". ** Special mention should go to Millbourn, who apparently thinks what is quite clearly an alien snake (and ''hissing like a cobra''), should be petted like a dog.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]* ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix'': Harry's companions ask him what in blazes he thinks he's doing when he reaches for a glass orb on display above an inscription that includes his name in the Department of Mysteries. Harry actually picks it up, fully hoping that something dangerous or at least exciting will happen to make their excursion there worthwhile. BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor...** He did realize he shouldn't stick his hand blindly into Dumbledore's Pensive in ''Goblet of Fire''. Such a shame he managed to ''accidentally'' touch it by leaning in too far.* ''[[{{Narnia}} The Magician's Nephew]]'': Polly tries to tell Digory how ridiculous it is to want to ring the bell just because a sign [[SchmuckBait dares you to ring it]], but Digory just ''has'' to find out what happens. He releases the SealedEvilInACan. In fairness to him, the sign implied that it had a magical power to drive them insane from the uncertainty of what ''would'' have happend if the button isn't pressed. It's never revealed if this was a bluff or the truth.* In ''Literature/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy1'', Arthur Dent sees an "inviting large red button" in the Heart of Gold. Upon pressing it, a sign lights up reading "Please do not press this button again."** Also shows up in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment in [[Film/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy the film adaptation]] with Arthur trying to work an escape pod's controls.* In Creator/RogerZelazny's ''Lord of Light'', the [[SealedEvilInACan demons]] are bound in a vault the door of which is inscribed with the words:--> "Go away. This is not a place to be. If you do try to enter here, you will fail and also be cursed. If somehow you succeed, then do not complain that you entered unwarned, nor bother us with your deathbed prayers." Signed, "The Gods."* Played with in Patricia Wrede's [[EnchantedForestChronicles Dealing With Dragons]]. The character who is only identified as the stone prince ''knows'' he has to use the tin dipper, not the one made of solid gold and covered in jewels, to take the Water of Healing from the well. But he figures it can't hurt to just have a look at the gold one, right? Wrong, but at least he was GenreSavvy enough to do something better than panic as he watched himself become petrified, resulting in a seriously subverted TakenForGranite situation.* This trope shows up often in Literature/{{Discworld}}, ''especially'' with the wizards. In fact, at one point Ridcully had to put up another sign to specifically deter other wizards, which in effect says "No, don't do it even to see what would happen". In ''Discworld/{{Hogfather}}'', Ridcully finds a bathroom that has been boarded up, had a sign put up warning not to open the room, and the door hidden behind a bookcase. So, of course, he opens it up to see why it was closed up.* In the Literature/ChroniclesOfPrydain series, there are at least two major artifacts (and several minor ones) that can cause painful injury, or even instant death, if the wrong people try to handle or use them. The sword Dyrnwyn is the most plot-central example; the inscription on its hilt, visible above the sheath, begins: "Draw Dyrnwyn, only thou of royal blood." Taran, who grew up on a farm but doesn't know his true heritage, tries to draw it anyway, and his companion all but quotes the page title warning him not to. Eventually he decides to do it anyway. [[spoiler:The sword promptly stuns him with a blinding flash. What, did you think he was King Arthur? Of course, it later turns out that Eilonwy had mistranslated the inscription, it really read "Draw Dyrnmyn, only thou of noble worth". After four books of CharacterDevelopment, Taran is able to safely draw the sword.]]** Likewise, Dallben warns people not to touch the Book of Three. Bad things happen when his warnings are ignored.* '''[[Literature/ShadowKeep Sranul]]'''. Frequently bordering with TooDumbToLive and TemptingFate.* This is about Alther's reaction to Jenna touching the time-travelling Glass in ''Literature/SeptimusHeap''. Needless to say, she does touch it, falls into it and ends up in a time 500 years before.* In the ''Literature/RavnicaCycle'', it's mentioned that the police labmages prevent this by putting {{curse}}s on cops who touch the evidence.* Creator/PeterDavid's Franchise/{{Star Trek|Expanded Universe}} novel ''Strike Zone'' features an [[AncientArtifact ancient alien device]] that is obviously a gun of some sort. It has a warning label that says "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Extremely stupid weapon]]. Do not use." It fires a [[FrickinLaserBeams beam]] that can punch through almost anything and follows the curvature of the planet it's on. Yes, that's right: if you fire it, the beam circles the globe and hits you from behind.* In ''Literature/TheSouthernReachTrilogy'', when the biologist discovers a strange fungus growing in the shape of writing within the EldritchLocation Area X, the anthropologist immediately yells "Don't touch it!". The biologist has enough restraint to not actually touch it, but nonetheless gets too close and causes things to begin going wrong.* In ''Literature/SixGunSnowWhite'', the women of Oh-Be-Joyful knows Snow White shouldn't be opening her door and accepting gifts, but she wants a mother too much to listen.* In ''Literature/TheLostFleet'', Marine officers ''always'' make sure to remind their boarding parties not to touch any controls in captured territory.-->'''Captain Desjani:''' Do you ever wonder what they did before humans invented buttons to push? There must have been ''something'' they weren't supposed to do.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]* ''Series/TheGoodies'' plays with this in the very first episode, as the Crown Jewels have a sign placed by them reading "Please Do Not Steal". It doesn't do much good.* Many episodes of ''Series/AreYouAfraidOfTheDark'', e.g., "The Tale of the Mummy's Curse," when the daughter of a museum curator finds a secret compartment in a mummy's coffin. As she reaches to open it, her brother tells her, "Don't touch it! There's a curse!" She finds a potion and ring that grant immortality, accidentally raising the mummy back to life.* In one episode of ''Series/That70sShow'', Eric is jealous of the attention his father Red gives to Hyde, and resolves to do something stupid to get Red to notice him. [[TheDitz Kelso]] immediately suggests bouncing a bowling ball off the living room couch to see what would happen. Hyde insistently tries to warn Eric against doing this, but Eric refuses to listen. Of course, the bowling ball bounces off the couch and smashes through Red's TV set. Eric gets some attention from his father, all right...but not exactly the kind he was looking for.** Later in the episode he even kicks himself for thinking anything Kelso said was a good idea.* Hiro in ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' ''immediately'' goes to open the safe his dead dad (in a VideoWill) told him never to open. Inside is the formula he's not supposed to touch, and another video from dead dad saying, "I TOLD YOU NOT TO TOUCH THAT!" Sadly, even that second reminder doesn't get Hiro to put the thing away before someone steals it.* Kelly in ''DeadSet'' repeatedly tells people in the house "don't touch the doors" because there are zombies outside. [[spoiler: Of course, one of the housemates is an asshole and opens it ''just'' to tease Kelly, which lets a zombie in and kills Angel.]]* Played for laughs in an episode of ''Series/BabylonFive'', where Garibaldi is shown into his guest quarters and told not to touch anything. He immediately begins touching ''everything'' in the room, saying "Touch! Touch!" aloud.* ''Series/DoctorWho''. The last words we hear in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS14E4TheFaceOfEvil The Face of Evil]]" is the Doctor shouting at Leela not to touch that button after she's slipped inside the TARDIS. Cue the latter dematerialising, and the Doctor now has a new companion.** Even earlier, in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS3E4TheDaleksMasterPlan The Daleks' Master Plan]]", he tells Katarina "NO! NOT THAT!" regarding a certain switch or button... which [[ThrownOutTheAirlock opens an air lock]].** "Don't. Touch. The Baby." - which Rose then does, of course. (At least it was by thoughtless instinct, not by intentional disobedience or due to curiosity as a character flaw.) This leads to the Doctor actually dying in that time line.* ''Series/StargateSG1'' season 9 has the newly reformed SG-1 enter a dormant laboratory used by [[BigBad Anubis]] for unknown purposes. Colonel Mitchell starts [[WhatDoesThisButtonDo pushing buttons]] [[TooDumbToLive looking for the light switch]], whereupon Dr Jackson forcefully informs him that while he may be the CO, he's also the [[EnsignNewbie new guy]] and should now stand in the corner while the grown-ups work.-->'''JACKSON''': New guy!-->'''MITCHELL''': Hey! You touched that...-->'''JACKSON''': I know how to read that.* In an episode of ''BurnNotice'', Michael narrowly averts BetterManhandleTheMurderWeapon by saying this to someone who was about to do so.* Series/{{Farscape}}: the ancients' relatives give John a very VERY strict warning about wormhole travel:--> '''Multiple voices''': And ''NEVER'' return to a familiar place prior to the last time you left.** Cue John returning to Earth over a decade before he left. * FacePalm** In ''Series/CanadasWorstDriver'', host Andrew Younghusband told a guy not to turn the ignition switch because the vehicle was already running. Said contestant did two or three times.* In ''Series/LostInSpace'', Dr. Smith made a constant habit of touching alien artifacts and devices even after being warned that it was a bad idea. This never worked out well.* In ''Series/FatherTed'', Dougal finds himself facing a "Do not press" red button in the cockpit of an airplane and is instantly entranced by it, but does resist the temptation. However, when asked later on to press a button nearby, he "accidentally" press the red one, and the plane empties its fuel tank.* In ''Series/OnceUponATime'' "The Jolly Roger", Regina has agreed to teach Emma how to do magic. She leads Emma down into her vault, full of powerful and dangerous magical artifacts, and warns her not to touch anything. Emma picks up the first thing she sees. Regina promptly snatches it away and repeats her warning. [[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]* Music/TheRamones have a song called "You Should Have Never Opened That Door" on ''Music/LeaveHome'', which is a GenreSavvy song about horror films.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Mythology]]* This shows up in a version of the original tale of ''Literature/{{Aladdin}}'', although unlike the Disney movie, Aladdin follows the advice. Good thing he did, too; in the original version he was told that he'd ''die instantly'' if he touched the walls. Maybe actually being told what would happen is what saved Aladdin from what happened to so many other victims of this trope... plus, if he died there, it'd be a pretty short story.* Moreover, a number of European folk tales follow the same pattern; there is one about dogs with gigantic eyes and a snuffbox that would summon them to act as genies. In all of these tales, the protagonist follows the prohibition, though in some cases he may accidentally brush an item with his clothing and trigger disaster.** This is a staple of fairy tales. It usually falls into two categories: The good vs. evil sibling stories and the husband and wife stories. In the former, the good child/sibling is told not to do or touch something and obeys while the wicked child/sibling does not and suffers some form of punishment. In the husband and wife stories, the protagonist (either the husband or the wife) finds a spouse through magical means and is given some sort of order, like not to hit them with iron or to sit on a rock without moving. The order is inevitably ignored or disobeyed, causing said magical spouse to be forced to leave the protagonist. In some fairy tales, the spouse is gone for good, but in others they are found again after several years of searching and trials. This kind of fairy tale goes way back to the myth of Psyche and Eros, when she was told not to look at her husband when he came to her at night.* There's the story of Pandora's Box, which released all kinds of evils and diseases into the world. She knew ''something'' bad would happen if she opened it, [[WhatAnIdiot but she did it anyway.]]** Depending on the telling, Zeus set up the box as SchmuckBait to punish mankind for accepting fire from Prometheus.** Depending on how one interprets the story, the box could represent gaining sapience, having to face knowledge of all the world's ills instead of simply existing as animals.** Some versions specifically say that Zeus gifted her with strong curiosity to ensure that she did open it. If the Olympians were determined to see something happen, chances are they'd get their way.** Yet another version says that there was no box at all. Just Pandora - the first human woman even created that Gods dumped on a previously single-gender human world as a punishment for stealing Gods' fire. Women ...* There's also the forbidden fruit of [[Literature/TheBible Adam and Eve]]. As with the Greek mythology example above, it could be an allegory for mankind gaining sentience, but is often instead treated as a cautionary tale of disobeying God.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]%% * [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/2003-07-02 This]] ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'' comic.%% ** Also [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2003-10-17/ this one]].* Susie from ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' once asked Calvin to pass a note for her, adding "And don't read it, okay?"-->''Calvin you stinkhead: I told you not to read this. --Susie''[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pinball]]* In ''Pinball/ScaredStiff'', Elvira will warn you not to touch the crate on the playfield if you hit it with the pinball. Of course, you ''have'' to hit it repeatedly to start multiball and other bonus modes.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]* At least two separate pieces of fluff text in ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' books list "Don't touch tha-" as the last words of a Sergeant or squad leader regarding [[HordeOfAlienLocusts Tyranid]] [[ActionBomb Spore Mines]].** The [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent Gretchin]] who pilot Looted Wagons are often told "Don't Press 'Dat", where "'dat" is the button to some emergency function that the Ork overseer hasn't had time to disable yet. The player has to roll dice each turn to see if the Gretchin give in to the SchmuckBait.* The TombOfHorrors actually relies on this. Amongst other things, the rod that will kill you if you do it, the trap that will kill you if you stick your hand in, the three chests that are ALL trapped... Really, don't touch the whole module and go play something else.* Every D&D adventuring party can recall the party member who died by trying on the cursed armor (usually over the rest of the group's protests.)** Or having to [[CollapsingLair make a hasty retreat]] because someone touched a [[SelfDestructMechanism load-bearing floating rock.]]** It's basically an unwritten rule that if the party wants to survive long, never trust ''anything'' that has not been properly identified. ''Don't'' drink the unidentified potion, ''don't'' put on the unidentified ring, ''don't'' try and use the unidentified wand, etc. * ''TabletopGame/{{Munchkin}}'' has the Duck of Doom, with the text "You should know better than to pick up [[MorallyAmbiguousDucktorate a duck]] in [[EverythingTryingToKillYou a dungeon]]."[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]* The original ''VideoGame/SpaceQuest'' featured a button marked "This button is not to be pushed at any time" in the escape pod. Pressing it caused the player to wind up in ''VideoGame/KingsQuestI'' where the pod would plummet straight into a moat filled with hungry alligators.** In the VGA remake the scene was changed to the pod winding up in ''ConquestsOfTheLongbow'' instead, and would simply crash and burn against a hillside.* In ''ModernWarfare 2'', there is a credits sequence which takes place in a museum. The museum contains scenes from the game, with statues that move when you get close. There is also a big red bell that reads 'Do NOT press this button'. Pressing it results in every statue coming to life and attacking you.* There's an item in ''VideoGame/ShadowMadness'' called Pandora's Box, the item description of which recommends the player to [[SchmuckBait save before using]]. [[spoiler: It displays a pretty CG movie that shows the [[NonstandardGameOver end of the universe]]]].* In one of the ''VideoGame/{{Thief}}'' games, there's a "Do Not Press" red button inside a butcher's shop in a warehouse district. Pushing it release a giant spider to attack you.** There's another one several missions later, presumably for those who missed the first and/or the terminally slow on the uptake. This one releases SEVERAL giant spiders.** In the levels with alarms that the guards can activate, there's nothing preventing ''you'' from pushing the button and turning on the alarm...* The Ulduar raid in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' features a large button labeled "[[SchmuckBait DO NOT PUSH THIS BUTTON]]". Pushing it causes the nearby boss, Mimiron, to yell at you ("Didn't you read the sign that says 'do not push this button'?"). It also activates Mimiron's hard-mode encounter, which involves the room you're in starting to explode, as well as the classic "This room will self-destruct in X minutes" warnings over the loudspeaker.* The button in the pool in ''VideoGame/ManiacMansion'', though of course you know that most everyone pushed it, despite the warning anyways.* In ''VideoGame/TheLostVikings 2'', one of the Vikings pushes a button labelled "Do Not Touch", thinking it read "Donut". This launches them across time and space, forcing them to have another quest to find their way home.* ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}} II'': Marius finds himself venturing into the tomb of Tal Rasha alongside the Dark Wanderer, eventually finding the [[SealedEvilInADuel shackled mage]] in the flesh. Before the Dark Wanderer can release him, Tyrael involves himself and the two duke it out. Marius approaches (under the belief Tal Rasha wants to be released from his miserable fate), only for Tyrael to call out to him not to do it. [[TooDumbToLive Marius doesn't listen.]]--> '''Tyrael''': ''[[YouFool Fool!]]'' [[NiceJobBreakingItHero You have just ensured the doom of this world. You cannot begin to imagine what has been set in motion this day.]] Go to the Temple of Light in the city of Kurast. There you will find [[HellGate the gate to Hell]] opened before you. [[DareToBeBadass You must find the courage to step through that gate, Marius!]] Take the stone to the Hellforge where it will be destroyed. Now run... ''Take the stone and run!!''* In a somewhat inverted example (in that when you place a sign, people will generally do the opposite), in ''VideoGame/MineCraft'' online servers, if you put up a sign on your house that says "Do not grief", chances are, you will be one of the first ones to be targeted for griefing. Of course, if you're [[TooDumbToLive dumb enough]] to believe that [[TemptingFate posting a sign would actually convince a griefer to not grief your house]], you probably somewhat deserve it.** In a straight example, many death traps have a sign that says "Do not push this button" or "Do not try to steal from this treasure chest." Guess what people do?* In ''VideoGame/{{Fallout3}}'', you are sent to retrieve a GECK (which converts the area around it into pure energy and forms fertile soil) from a radiated Vault, but you are given the option to activate it instead. The game asks you ''twice'' if you're sure, and flat-out tells you the second time that you will die if you turn it on.* [[TheGunslinger Buck]] from ''VideoGame/{{Wildstar}}'' says this to HIMSELF in the cinematic trailer when he accidentally activates something in a broken-down giant robot, unleashing a swarm of killer drones.--> '''Buck:''' [[GenreSavvy ...had to go and touch it.]]** At the end of the trailer, when the whole party falls into an ancient crypt, he repeats his warning:---> '''Buck:''' [[PunctuatedForEmphasis Nobody. Touch. Anything.]]* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII Mark of the Assassin'', Tallis the rogue warns you not to touch the mysterious forest altar. Obviously, that's what every player ever is going to do. She then says "I TOLD you not to touch it!" when it summons a [[DemonicSpiders Sky Horror and a bunch of ghostly assassins.]] (Your ass is probably grass if you are playing on the highest difficulty.)[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0118.html Castle Self-Destruct. (Do not touch ever.) (No, not even then.)]]* ''Webcomic/DanAndMabsFurryAdventures'' [[http://missmab.com/Comics/Vol_362.php "Remember. Always idiot-proof your lab!"]]** [[http://missmab.com/Comics/Vol_968.php Touch! Touch! Poke! Touch!]]* Played straight in [[http://www.goodtimescomic.com/?p=466 this]] ''Good Times'' strip.* [[ActionGirl Saves A Fox]] from ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'' repeatedly tells everyone not to touch anything in her quasi dungeon crawl with Grem, K'Selliss and Dies Horribly. Naturally, everyone else keeps doing it anyway. Eventually this frustrates Saves so much that she begins angrily screaming she doesn't care anymore, they can touch whatever they want, she's going to save her breath. [[ExactWords This only encourages K'Seliss to touch her...]]** This also gets K'Seliss in trouble later when he rips the finger off an undead abomination, intending to eat it.* "DON'T TOUCH!!" "NO" [[http://www.welcometopixelton.com/2007/07/15/invasion-of-the-blah-blah-blah-part-10/ "CAN YOU READ?"]]* In ''Webcomic/WapsiSquare'', Bud [[http://wapsisquare.com/comic/let-me-see/ warned Monica that she shouldn't touch an artifact]] because it had frightened a group of Nazis enough to make them kill each other. Naturally, Monica touched it, but not before TemptingFate. Bud was GenreSavvy enough to expect this, and had even taken bets on whether or not Monica would touch it.* [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]] in ''Webcomic/ExterminatusNow'': The MadScientistLaboratory has a BigRedButton for the SelfDestructMechanism labeled "Do Not Push". Of course, the Mobian Inquisition '''wants''' to destroy the base, so they [[http://exterminatusnow.comicgenesis.com/d/20050909.html push the button]]. It turns out that [[spoiler:it was a decoy that just set off the alarms]].* In one ''Webcomic/{{Nodwick}}'' story (the first appearance of Baphuma'al, in fact) the heroes are hired to get a pillow from an old wizard's house. They are given these explicit instructions by their employer: "You must not disturb any objects other than the pillow, as most items are cursed, trapped, or both. Touching ''anything'' may jeopardize your mission... As well as three nearby fiefdoms, a monastery, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and a winery I am quite fond of]]." Naturally, Yeagar doesn't believe this, and convinces Nodwick to try to steal a fancy and valuable "Elysium Barcalounger"; this leads to a GoryDiscretionShot where Piffany and Arthax require a ''squeegee'' to collect their remains in order to restore them. * In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', Sollux, for some inexplicable reason, creates a code that, if run, will curse the user and everyone he knows to horrible fates. He gives it to Karkat, who almost instantly runs it despite being told not to.* ''Webcomic/{{Vexxarr}}'' does not want anyone touching his ship's fearsome and unpredictable main weapon. Unfortunately...-->'''Vexxarr:''' Do not fix the zorp weapon. Do not touch it! Do not allow stray photons to glance off its valence cloud! If you find yourself ''thinking'' about the zorp weapon you are being far too interactive! Do I make myself clear?-->'''Mahakalosian engineer:''' So...you're saying we should put it back?* This conversation from ''Tales of Zenith'':-->'''Reverend''': Tam, how did you keep people from touching the painted wall? Every time I do I have to touch up for fingerprints.-->'''Tam O'Shanter''': What kind of sign did you put up?-->'''Reverend''': Just "Wet Paint: Do not touch."-->'''Tam O'Shanter''': Oh, that's why. That's really not good enough. A 'wet paint' sign is practically an invitation saying 'please touch.' I used a stronger one.-->'''Reverend''': What did yours say?-->'''Tam O'Shanter''': "Notice: This wall is the edge of the Most High Shrine of God. Touching will result in irrevocable damnation for eternity."[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]* Referenced and lampshaded several times in Ursula Verson's ''{{Gearworld}}'' journal. The explorers of the labyrinthe, self-modifying and seemingly boundless structure known as Gearworld find that it contains many hazards, several of which are marked by polite signs left by an unknown group calling themselves the Monks of Perdition. These signs always take the ForbiddenFruit factor into account and plead the reader to heed them while acknowledging that they may very well choose not to do so. The uncovering first such sign can be found [[http://gearworld.livejournal.com/13707.html here]]:-->PLEASE DO NOT STRIKE GONG-->While we fully understand that you are curious as to what happens when the gong is struck, we must strongly advise against it. The results are most unpleasant and dramatically fatal. Human nature being what it is, we realize that this warning may not stop you, and may in fact only drive you to strike it, but since we are unable to destroy the gong, and the lock was evidently insufficient to keep you out, we can only hope that you will take our advice. There are neither riches nor knowledge here, but only an ugly death.-->Respectfully,-->The Monks of Perdition-->In Memory of Brother Wu* The emailed-around Don't Press The Red Button thingy.* ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'':--> '''Bulma's father''' : Make sure not to touch anything, like the gravity control. Or the start button.--> *shows the button*--> '''Bulma's father''' : The start button. Don't touch...THE start button. Now I'll be right back.--> '''Goku''' : Okiedokie.--> *3 seconds later* '''Goku''' : Wonder if this is the button. *shuttle blast off in space** RedVsBlue's resident GenreSavvy chararacter Church, upon discovering that "the stupidest being in the universe" will be responsible for a prophesied apocalypse, attempts to warn the team [[TheDitz ditz]], Caboose: "Don't touch anything, don't look at anything, don't ''breathe'' on anything!" By then, though, it's already too late.* WebVideo/YuGiOhtheAbridgedSeries had a variation of this, where a magic door appears in front of Serenity, Duke and Tristan, telling them to open it. When Duke asks what's behind the door, it answers "You will enter a world of deep, unending pain and torment! ...Oh, and, uh...ponies." The following dialogue actually happens ''twice'':--> '''Serenity:''' Ponies! I love ponies!--> '''Duke:''' Serenity, NO!--> *opens the door*[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': Aang and Zuko find "some kind of mystical gemstone" in the TempleOfDoom in "The Firebending Masters," and Zuko goes right for it.-->'''Aang''': Well, don't touch it!-->'''Zuko''': Why not?-->'''Aang''': Remember [[DurableDeathtrap what happened out there with those spikes]]? [[GenreSavvy I'm just very suspicious of giant, glowing gems sitting on pedestals]].** To make a short story shorter, [[spoiler:the two end up [[CoveredInGunge buried in superglue gunge]] for the next couple of hours.]]--->'''Aang''': [[DidntWantAnAdventure You]] ''[[DidntWantAnAdventure had]]'' [[DidntWantAnAdventure to pick up the glowing egg,]] ''[[DidntWantAnAdventure didn't you?]]''** A much more [[PlayedForDrama serious]] version appears in the first season finale, when Iroh threatens Zhao not to hurt the moon spirit. When he does it anyway [[spoiler:he receives a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown from the ocean spirit and Aang in his full avatar state.]]-->'''Iroh''': "Zhao, whatever you do to that spirit, I'll unleash on you ten-fold! ''Let it go now!''"* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfZelda'' cartoon, Link tells Zelda not to touch the Armos statues while they explore a labyrinth. Guess what Zelda does while asking "Why?". In the ensuing battle, she accidentally touches another and Link is thrown into touching a third.* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':** "Treehouse of Horror IV": In "The Devil and Homer Simpson", Homer's sold his soul to the Devil for a doughnut - but he's smart enough to know if he doesn't eat it all the Devil doesn't get his soul. So later that night, as he's rummaging through the fridge, among lots of tasty goodies there's a chunk of doughnut with a big sign attached - "DADDY'S SOUL DOUGHNUT - DO NOT EAT". Of course, since Homer is half-asleep, and [[TheDitz even at the best of times isn't too bright]], he eats it anyway.-->'''Homer:''' [[CatchPhrase "Mmm...]][[ForbiddenFruit forbidden doughnut..."]]** In "Bart Simpson's Dracula", when Bart is running from vampires, he sees a switch labeled "Super Happy Fun Slide". Despite knowing it would turn the stairs into a slide and send him right to the vampires, he pulled it anyway. His reasoning?-->'''Bart:''' I know I shouldn't...but when am I gonna be here again?*** Of course, [[spoiler:he may have already been a vampire.]]** In yet another Treehouse of Horror episode, Groundskeeper Willie put a note on the school thermostat saying "Do Not Touch - Willie". Homer [[DoubleEntendre thought it was good general advice]] before cranking up the thermostat, causing a fire that killed Willie. ** In a non-Treehouse episode, "Homer's Enemy" Frank Grimes stops Homer from drinking acid instead of his Buzz Cola by slapping it out of his hand, splashing it against a wall which instantly decomposes. Of course Grimey is instantly in trouble for ruining the wall instead of being praised as a hero for saving Homer.* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'' episode "Arthur's Big Hit", D.W. breaks Arthur's model plane. He worked on it for days and told her a million times "Don't touch it!", and she ''still'' decided that throwing it out of the window was a good idea. When she failed to apologise (blaming Arthur for building a plane that couldn't fly) Arthur lost all patience with her and hit her, yelling, "I TOLD YOU... NOT TO TOUCH IT!"* As the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' is exploring an area with a number of magical artifacts, TheFlash picks one up, and accidentally blows a hole in the wall. {{Franchise/Batman}} yells at him not to touch anything, since it could be extremely dangerous. Pan over to {{Franchise/Superman}} and MartianManhunter [[CrowningMomentOfFunny quickly putting down artifacts]]. Franchise/WonderWoman, at least was smart enough to not touch anything.* ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce'' - Frylock spends the entire episode chastising Shake this way in the episode ''The Broodwich''.-->'''Frylock:''' Will you just throw that damn thing away? If you keep it around here you're gonna eat it and then you're gonna die!* The ''OutOfTheInkwell'' cartoon "Koko's Earth Control" has Koko the Klown and his dog Fitz enter the control room for the planet Earth, and Fitz's attention turns to a lever marked "Danger/Beware - If this handle is pulled, the world will come to an end." Naturally, despite Koko's attempts to stop him, Fitz pulls the lever, and although we don't see the world end as such, things do get really crazy.* Used in the ''[[WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGummiBears GummiBears]]'' episode "He Who Laughs Last" where "Don't Touch It, You Idiot!" becomes "Don't Eat It You Idiot". [[spoiler: Tummi ate a piece of literal ForbiddenFruit which caused him to [[BodyHorror slowly turn into a tree]].]] Made even worse when Zummi lost his medallion, which was needed to reopen the Great Book and find the spell to save Tummi.* The ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode, "Harlequinade" has a very funny one after Harley Quinn wants to listen to the Batmobile's radio and presses a button that instead [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IJi_Vj4_-k expels the Batmobile's parachute.]]-->'''Batman''': Listen, and listen good. You don't touch anything, say anything, or ''do'' anything unless I tell you! ''Got it?''-->'''Harley'''(small voice):Yes, sir.* In the first episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'', construction workers digging more tunnels for the New York subway system come across a door with a demonic face that repeatedly telling them to not open it until [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt Doomsday]]. Because they're on a schedule, and because they don't want to be told what to do by a talking door, they attempt to continue digging. And when the door sees that they aren't going to listen to it, it then opens, unleashing HellOnEarth into New York's subway system.-->'''Doomsday Door''': Do Not Open Until Doomsday!* ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'' ** In "Operation: M.A.C.A.R.R.O.N.I.", [[WalkingDisasterArea Numbuh 13]] causes ''two'' of Sector V's planes to crash because he touches something he shouldn't:-->'''Numbuh 2:''' I told you not touch that!-->'''Numbuh 13:''' Well sor-ry! Gee, you guys are even touchier than Sector N!"!** In "Operation: F.O.U.N.T.A.I.N.", the team is in an ancient temple that resembles has a school-theme, and are currently in what looks like a cafeteria, complete with food. Numbuh Five is certain that a trap is here (seeing as they barely survived the one in the last big room) but her warning as they walk through it is distorted like some twisted game of "whisper down the alley":-->'''Numbuh Five:''' Nobody touches anything!-->'''Numbuh One:''' Numbuh Five says, don’t touch anything!-->'''Numbuh Four:''' Numbuh One says, don’t punch a thing!-->'''Numbuh Three:''' Numbuh Four, says, try the onion rings!-->'''Numbuh Two:''' Well, you don’t have to tell me twice!-->'''Numbuh Three:''' ''(Screams)''-->'''Numbuh Two:''' What, I was going to share… ''(Is cut off as he realizes that taking the food has triggered a DrowningPit trap.)''* Subverted in the movie TeenTitansTroubleInTokyo; when visiting the japanese police center, Beast Boy notices a red button and is about to touch it... only to be intimidated into not doing it by Raven.* In the ''JohnnyBravo'' segment "Bootman", the leader of the [[SuperTeam Astounding League of Super People]] tells Johnny not to push a certain button. Johnny's response? "Aw, now I got to!"* "Pandora's Box" was a Terrytoons films starring Super Mouse (would become MightyMouse) and is based on the old mythology tale. Pandora and her boyfriend are mice (of course), and she stumbles upon a mysterious box. Her boyfriends calls out "Don't touch it!" Pandora opens it anyway, and out comes a horde of demonic cats. "I told you not to touch it!!"* In ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'' short "SpaceMadness", Ren, inflicted with the titular disorder, brings Stimpy to a room with a shiny red button. When Stimpy goes to touch, Ren slaps his hand away and shouts out, "DON'T TOUCH IT! IT'S THE HISTORY ERASER BUTTON, YOU FOOL!!"* In the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode ''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E23InspirationManifestation Inspiration Manifestation]]'', this is Owlowiscious' response to the stone spellbook in a secret chamber hanging over a pit with a SicklyGreenGlow emanating from the ceiling. [[GenreBlind Spike grabs it without a second thought]].[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]* British artist Damien Hirst has spoken of an exhibition he will never be allowed to do. It consists of a big red button with DO NOT PRESS written under it. When people (inevitably) ignore the sign and press the button, a boxing glove shoots out and punches them in the face.** The [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx4mB_IFHtU 'DO NOT TOUCH']] art exhibit in the Science Museum in London comes close: a bare metal pole surrounded by yellow and black warning stripes and large signs warning people not to touch it, as they will get an electric shock. [[spoiler:Yes, [[SchmuckBait visitors always touch it]]. Yes, you do get shocked.]]* There is much debate over what kind of warnings to put at nuclear waste burial sites that might actually keep future generations (or aliens) away, rather than simply tickling their curiosity (assuming proper documentation of what's actually there has fallen by the wayside). One suggested possibility is to start a ButThouMust Not religion, the idea being that religion is a way of keeping a message going for a really, really long time. Well, something vaguely recognizable as the message, anyway.** See SealedEvilInACan for how well this can end.* Animals in nature that are painted bright shiny colors so that animals know "I'm horribly poisonous; don't eat me!" Pretty sure they still get eaten. And the consumers die.** Many brightly colored animals, like Monarch butterflies, simply make predators sick, which still protects other members of the species without relieving any pressure on competing species.* Poison ivy, hot pots and pans without an oven mitt, wet paint... RealLife is ''full'' of things like this.** "Tell someone there are a million stars in the sky and they will believe you. Tell them the paint is wet and they will have to touch it to be sure."** Whenever you go out to eat, the server warns you the dish they set down is still hot...and someone in your party will invariably touch it to verify the fact.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Other]]* In the Evil Overlord List, one of the items is that all devices will have a well concealed self destruct button, and an obvious button labeled "do not press" which will trigger an immediate spray of bullets into anyone stupid enough to disregard it.* The ''IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfTheForbiddenEye'' attraction at [[DisneyThemeParks Disneyland]] revolves around a recently-discovered temple where an ancient deity resides, offering to bestow upon visitors endless wealth, eternal youth, or visions of the future, on the one condition that they don't look into the deity's eyes. If they do, they'll be led to certain doom. Almost as soon as the ride starts, the vehicles enter the treasure room, which contains a large statue of the deity's face on the far wall ... and you can guess what happens from there.** Of course, there is also the [[http://findingmickey.squarespace.com/indiana-jones-adventure/single-gallery/7929179 rope you're not supposed to pull]].[[/folder]]